It's been a stressful few weeks for the fans and media, but that pales in comparison to what the Philadelphia Eagles must be feeling. Every conversation offers similar talking points. They're looking for ways to get more out of their offensive personnel. Lately, however, they haven't been at full strength, which has led them to call up more role players and depth options at various positions.
Preseason standout Carson Steele was promoted from the practice squad to the active roster on October 9th, ahead of the recent overseas trip to London. He played 20 snaps against the Jacksonville Jaguars, all on special teams, but injuries may force the team to call on him for more.
As the coaching staff searches for answers, offensive coordinator Sean Mannion
recently praised Steele during a media sit-down. Mannion praised his versatility and indicated that Philadelphia is considering different ways to use the running back.
Sean Mannion says Eagles are considering different ways to use Carson Steele
Steele's potential value extends beyond carrying the football. With the Eagles managing injuries at running back and across the offense, finding players who can contribute in multiple roles could give Mannion more flexibility when putting together the game plan.
When asked about the Eagles' running-game struggles and whether Steele could serve as a fullback to lead the block, Mannion made it clear the coaching staff values what the running back brings to the table.
“He did a phenomenal job in the preseason. He's wearing a ton of different hats with us out on the practice field, especially as we're kind of weathering the storm through some of these injuries. He's a versatile player who can do a lot of nice things for us. We're looking to use all of our guys in every way possible. So, that's certainly something we're considering.”
Mannion stopped short of confirming that Steele would receive an expanded role or line up regularly as a fullback. However, his comments suggest the Eagles are exploring options that could allow the running back to contribute beyond his traditional responsibilities.
That flexibility could become especially valuable as Philadelphia tinkers with its offensive game plan and tries to establish a more dependable ground game. The Eagles have struggled to generate consistent production, as evidenced by their combined 1.2 yards-per-carry average against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
That makes it important to examine whether different personnel groupings or blocking concepts can help create better opportunities. Using Steele as a lead blocker would represent a different way to deploy his versatility, potentially giving Philadelphia another option in short-yardage situations or when the offense wants to create space for another runner. It could also allow the coaching staff to experiment with personnel packages without abandoning its existing offensive structure.
Still, mentioning something as a possibility should not be mistaken for a confirmed change. Mannion's comments suggest the Eagles are considering different ways to use Steele, not that they've finalized a specific role.
Philadelphia needs practical solutions as it prepares for the Carolina Panthers, and Steele's ability could make him a useful piece of that effort. Whether the coaching staff follows through with a fullback role remains to be seen, but Mannion's remarks suggest Steele's versatility has caught their attention.
This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Should the Eagles use Carson Steele at fullback as RB injuries mount?
